The Vintage Flea of OTT is this Sunday 8/28!

Join us for the best vintage shopping in OC!  Come early for coffee, donuts, 

and the best selection!

Need more info? Call 714-573-1025 or see VintageWhimzy.com

Changes

We have been a retail outlet for the last 10 years.  Searching for new and interesting finds, collecting vintage ephemera, holding classes, and doing many other things.  The time has come for a something new!

As of August 5th, Whimzy will be closed for a few weeks.  We will re-open on August 23rd for the Vintage Flea Market of Old Town Tustin.

We will be hard at work re-arranging during this time to bring you a new Whimzy! Some of those changes are~

*New in-depth classes

*Special events

*Weekend sales

If you find you are needing something from Whimzy while we are closed, please call and book an appointment.  We are happy to acommodate!

We will be posting more as we come along.  We hope you will enjoy our new direction and look forward to spending more quality time with you!

How to Shop a Flea

Alex Bell and Shira Entis know their fleas, from Elephant’s Trunk in Connecticut to Portobello Market in London. Which you would expect from the girls who started the awesome line of handbags and totes called Fleabags.

“We’ve been lovers of flea markets forever,” Bell says. “When I met Shira at Brown University, we bonded over great market deals.” Currently, their favorite markets are Chelsea’s on 25th street and that up-and-coming hidden gem Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market (406 West 39th Street) on Saturdays. As quasi professionals, however, they never venture forth without a game plan, which includes the following advice:

1. Keep your eye on the ball. “We try to talk beforehand and focus ourselves a little bit,” Entis says. Markets are open on various days, but the girls prefer Saturdays (the most vendors turn out) and suggest arriving when the gates open (usually around 9 a.m.). Most important, know what you’re looking for before you get there.

2. Weather makes all the difference. “On a cold or cloudy day, fewer vendors set up,” Bell says. “That means there are fewer shoppers too. So, the vendors there are more likely to make a deal. One of Shira’s most successful excursions happened at the outdoor Chelsea flea on a cold and windy day. Only three vendors made it out and because Shira was their only customer she walked away with a huge box of YSL blouses and antique brocade fabrics. Great finds!”

3. Your outfit might, too. “When marketing outside of the city, we try not to look like New Yorkers,” Entis says. “Especially no jewelry!” When you are in Manhattan, the jig is usually up and vendors know a tourist from a seasoned shopper a mile away. Dress casual and for comfort. You don’t have to prove anything about your vintage know-how.

4. Let them do the talking: “Being coy is the name of the game,” Bell says. “No one is going to give you a deal if they think you’re going to turn around and sell it on eBay. But on the flip side, don’t be naïve.” It’s O.K. to eventually let them know you know Balenciaga from Target and that you’re not going to get pushed around.

5. It’s O.K. to be thrifty: “We rarely spend more than $100 during the entire day,” Entis says. “And, we always have a good bartering session with the vendors,” Bell adds. Entis scored a vintage Chanel jacket for $40, and Bell found a pair of new Oscar de la Renta heels for $15 at the Chelsea flea. “If you are buying multiple items, they’ll usually give you a better deal rather than just buying one item,” says Bell, who along with Entis stocked up on military blankets from vendors for their fall 2011 collection.

6. Go with a friend: “We like to help each other,” Entis says. And what’s more fun than shopping with a friend?

http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/07/how-to-shop-a-flea/?_r=0

The Cheat Sheet To Finding The Good Stuff

1. In Peter's world, it's all about the couture details, craftsmanship, and the sign of an artisan's hand: Look for hand-stitching, nail-head trims, embroidery, and hand-woven textiles. It makes anything more special.

2. Look past the scratches, dust, and dirt. Not only can you have anything restored, cleaned, or reupholstered (see below for a list of resources), but you can also change the finish on a table. Try to survey the options while focusing on the possibilities—not on the limitations. In the world of interiors, there really are very few.

3. Don't focus on provenance—unless you really know what you're doing, or are shopping at an auction house that guarantees authenticity, you don't want to splash out big money on something that might be a reproduction. (If you see something too good to be true, it probably is.) This is not to say that there aren't treasures around—just take a deep breath, get out your phone, and search the internet for originals so you can confirm that the details are correct (the wing of the arm, the stamp on the bottom, the type of wood).

4. Measure your space before you go. Beyond the parameters of the area you'd like to fill (i.e., the space allotted for a coffee table), bring measurements for the supporting furniture (i.e., the height and length of your couch, etc.). If you live in an apartment building with small elevators, or a house with unusual doors, be sure that you'll be able to get the item inside!

5. Interact with your potential purchase. Sit in the chairs and make sure they're comfortable and that they don't wobble; make sure a table is the right height, etc. Don't be shy about giving your potential purchase a test-drive.

6. If you're interested in an item, but not overly attached, walk away—do a second lap at the end of the day. If it's still available, you'll have much more negotiating power.

7. Know your budget—and don't forget to factor customs and shipping in (see below for a list of resources). It's easy to get totally carried away in the moment, so know your upper limit.

8. Look for pairs and sets: Vendors generally hate to break them up, so you're going to get a better deal. Besides adding symmetry to a space (see below), you can often use an extra lamp or chairs in a different room.

http://www.goop.com/journal/see/275/the-flea-market-guide?utm_source=goop+issue&utm_campaign=201db18bc9-275_The_Flea_Market_Guide_3_13_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_5ad74d5855-201db18bc9-193176

Halloween!

Whimzy! is now officially in "Halloween" mode. Stop in and see what creepy, fun, bewitchedness awaits you!

Get them before the disappear!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Getting it Together

Well,
We  have been working very hard on the shoppe for the last week and it is coming along nicely!  There is nothing like shifting and moving everything around to inspire something new!  I think you will like what we have "in store" for you!  The reveal happens on the 23rd of August right before the Vintage Fleamarket on the 26th.  We encourage you to stop in and see all that is shiny and new!

The Vintage Marketplace!

Just a pleasant reminder to join Christie, Rita and many more lovely folk at "The Vintage Marketplace" 
on September 9 and 10.  
Dianne and I are planning on going to visit.  
It is an absolutely fabulous way to spend the day!

Class with Robin's Gypsy Spirit!

Robin Howes visited Whimzy! on Saturday and brought lots of fun tools, trinkets, and talk!

This class was a serious technique based lesson!  The students learned to use a dapping block and hammer~

 That is a bottle cap she is pounding on.

The students then learned to use a drill properly.  Now they can put holes in whatever they want!

Here Jenelle is learning how to copper foil her bottle caps together for a charm.

Robin Demos her soldering techniques.  Then everyone else gets to try!

Time to flatten and texture this soon to be charm!

Time to assemble!

And this is the Treasured Gypsy Charm Bracelet by Robin Dudley Howes!

For information on Whimzy classes click here!

New @ WHIMZY!

New items to tempt you!  Stop in soon for the best selection!

 These are wonderful brightly colored vocab cards.  Great on a card of your own, as a tag, or in a collage!

We have all kinds of new ephemera!  Dianne is an expert a finding unique vintage goodies!

These beauties are little natural paper journals!  Hand stitched and cover in corrugated  paper.  How about having one done up for each season?  Jot some notes, sketch some images, tack in some goodies?

OR

You can join us on June 18th for a Coptic Journal class with Jenelle and learn to make your own!  Click here to register!

We always enjoy seeing you!  Come by and say "Hi!". 

New @ Whimzy!

 Dianne has been busy collecting wonderful unique items for Whimzy!  This amazing little ballerina is one of them!  She is about 7 to 8 cinches high.  Her arms and legs are cotton bunting.  Her face is cotton too, but  different from her lovely limbs.  She wear a gorgeous satin dress and is adorned by a sparkling crown.

 
New to Whimzy! are these marvelous porcelain legs!  Several sets in many different sizes to make dolls from or use in an artful project!  I think I may need a set for my desk!  They are wonderful!
 

 I love that some are crossed and others have pantaloons!  So much fun!  The small ones could be dressed into a necklace!  What a conversation piece that would be!

Whimzy! hosts the Vintage Fleamarket @ Jamestown this Sunday, the 23rd!  Get a leg up!  Spend $100.00 or more in the store and receive a 20% discount!  We look forward to seeing you there!

Celebrating 6 years and New Classes at WHIMZY!

This weekend October 23 & 24 Whimzy! is celebrating 6 years 

of sparkly goodness!

We are offering food and fun, shopping and socializing!  The fun begins Saturday at 10:00 am and runs through our Vintage Fleamarket on Sunday!  Old Town Tustin is hosting the Artwalk as well.  The center we are located in will be the Wine Tasting Pavilion.  You can eat, drink, shop and view art all within a few blocks!

  

Additionally, we have added several new classes to our schedule.  Many happening before the holidays!  If you would like to create something wonderful for a loved one or friend this is the place to do it!  Treating a friend to a Whimzy! class would be a gift that keeps on giving!  Click here for more info!

Dianne and I look forward to seeing you this weekend!

Tustin Historical Home Tour

Today was the Tustin Home Tour with Tustin's Historical Society.  Whimzy was honored to host a booth there to let folks know what's happening!

There were 5 homes, 2 churches, and 3 gardens on the tour.


 We set up a beautiful table featuring "Glitterfest" of course, and our favorite little doggy for the JasVil Fleamarket.
If anyone has a name suggestion for this little pooch,
please send it too me!  He appears in our ads with
a thought balloon that says
"I beggin' you to take me to the fleamarket!" 

I met so many friendly folks!  It was quiet at times, so I was able to catch up on my magazine reading as well as sketching projects for my table at Glitterfest.  I also had these EXTREMELY yummy cookies!  Don't they look smashing with WWC?  The sugar even matches the cover!  Can you tell that I might have had a little too much of that yummy sugar?  :)

All in all it was a fine day for meeting new people, sitting in the sun, and enjoying artistic moments, just me and my little muse!

You just never know.......

Sunday was the JasVil Fleamarket at Whimzy! One of the things I love most about the fleamarket is even though I go out with ideas of what I am looking for, I ALWAYS find something else! These skate keys (& one fireplace key) just spoke to me and I had to have them! I received all these for just five bucks!



After wandering a bit more I found this old vase which is perfect for the boughs of heavy headed roses that are taking over my yard right now!

A few steps more and I picked up a really beautiful flower frog. Currently it is holding up the flowers in the photo of the vase! Did you know that flower frogs also work upside-down? If there are holes all the way through and it won't fit into the vase flip it and see if it works! All this fun for just $15.00! YAY!
Join me gain for the JasVil Flea the day after Glitterfest-May 23rd from 8 to 3pm to find some lovely treasures of your own!

Great Finds in Jamestown Village!

You know, there are ALWAYS some very interesting things at our Fleamarket. You just never know what will turn up!

Number stamps. Vintage 60's style. Very cool!

Lady GA-GA would be jealous!

The plant man has THE most interesting and unusual botanical specimens!
If you haven't been, or haven't been in a while, save the date and stop by!
The next JasVil Flea is Sunday, April 25th 8am to 3pm!

Winter Wire Crown

January was the opportune time for me to get my head around teaching a wire crown class. Bending wire is something I have done for years and I really don't think about what I am doing when I do it! So, by breaking it down step by step for my students it allows me to see it from a different perspective.

My student was the lovely and very fun Joleen Dismo! We had a great time together creating my Winter Wire Wonder! As well as getting to know eachother. Joleen not only makes crowns, but she does custom embroidery. She puts together personalized specialty baby gifts for showers & such!

It was a truly relaxing afternoon. Creating, chocolate, and a new friend! Thank you Joleen!

The next class is on February 7th 11 to 2 for my
Queen of Hearts Party Hat! It will be on display this weekend during the JasVil Fleamarket. Stop by, say "Hi!", and take a peek!

Come and see at the JasVil Flea!

Have you been to the Jamestown Village Vintage Fleamarket? It is a smaller venue that features merchants from all over. They bring wonderful wares , tiny treasures, and unique findings right to Whimzy's doorstep! Dianne and I love the 4th Sunday of the month! Not only because we only need step out of the door to shop, but because we get to spend time with our regular visitors! I have learned so much from all of these friendly people! Advice from a retired teacher, future real estate projections, remedies for colds, and recipes for fantastic food. All of this from our little fleamarket! Yes, it is the shopping, but more importantly it's the melange of unique people you dig through to find the real treasures!

JasVil Fleadom!

If you have never come to the Jamestown Village Vintage Fleamarket-mark your calendar! Every 4th Sunday we fill the Whimzy lot with goodies from all over. Not only do we have donuts and coffee to give you a shopping buzz, but we have all this great stuff! Check it out! The next Fleamarket is on Sunday, August 23rd from 8am to 3pm. Join us! Stop into the store for some great deals and the low-down on Glitterfest Fall!